About the Grant

The COVID-19 pandemic hit AAPI business owners hard. 1 in 3 female AAPI business owners experienced direct racial bias and discrimination and 84% reported that Covid-19 has had a negative impact on their business. Over 11,000 anti-AAPI incidents have been reported since the beginning of the pandemic, and a disproportionate number of attacks have been directed at AAPI women business owners. 

The AAPISTRONG Small Business Fund is made possible through a partnership among National ACE and Reimagine Main Street serving AAPI entrepreneurs with financial support from Meta.

This program provides an opportunity to access expert resources from trusted partners and organizations who are committed to the success of AAPI-owned small businesses.

The AAPISTRONG Small Business Fund will provide:

  • $10,000 cash awards to provide momentum to 40 AAPI business owners who launched their businesses during the pandemic

  • $25,000-$50,000 cash awards to 60 AAPI business owners who demonstrate momentum and strong potential where our backing could help take their vision to the next level

 

Timeline:

Applications Open: July 11, 2022

Applications Close: July 26, 2022

Announcement of Winners: Late September/Early October 2022

*Dates are subject to change.

 

Eligibility:

  • The business must be Asian American/Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian (AAPI) majority-owned (51% or more AAPI-owned).

  • The business must be based and operating in the United States.

  • The business must currently be in operation.

  • Your business is legal and for-profit.

  • You are able and willing to document your revenue. 

  • If you launched your business before 2020, your business must have reached a revenue threshold of more $100,000.

  • If you launched your business on or after Jan 1, 2020, your business must have reached $1,000 in revenue each month in operation.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to apply?

    No, you do not need to be a U.S. citizen to apply.

  • Do I need to have a Submittable account?

    Yes, a Submittable account is required to apply, and free to make.

  • How many winners will be selected?

    There will be 102 winners. 40 winners will receive $10,000; 60 winners will receive $20,000; 2 grand prize winners will receive $50,000.

  • What are my obligations as a grantee?

    If you are chosen as a grant recipient, please be prepared to share your testimony on how the funding helped your business.

  • How are winners selected?

    After applications are screened for completeness and eligibility, they will be reviewed by an independent advisory board.

  • Where can I get my certificate of good standing?

    You can get a certificate of good standing from the business filing agency in your state. In many cases, this is your secretary of state office (or one of its subdivisions). However in some cases, you'll need to find the equivalent agency that's responsible for filing entities and maintaining state records.

  • When will applicants be notified of results?

    We will notify all applicants about the status of their submission in September via the email provided in your application. Be sure to check your email regularly, including your junk folders. Email updates to all applicants will come from Submittable. If someone assisted you in the physical completion of the application form, please be sure to include their email address when asked. This will ensure they are able to receive a copy of the status email as well.

  • Will you provide feedback on applications that were not selected?

    Due to the high volume of grant proposals we receive, we may not be able to respond to individual requests for updates. However, you can check at any time on the status of your application via Submittable.

Meet Our Partners

Presenting Partners

Producing Partners

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